Press for stamping blanks



C. R. MOON PRESS FOR STAMPINGBLANKS Nov. 19, 1935;

Filed April 2'7, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. (if/mm k, Mao/w ATTORNEYS.

Nbv. 19, 1935. c. R. MOON PRESS FOR STAMPING BLANKS Filed April 27, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. (M/(1:; A. Noam I wf-M vill ATTORNEYi Nov, 19, 1935. c. R. MOON PRESS FOR STAMPING BLANKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 27, 19:54

A T'TO RNEYS.

Nov. 19, 1935. c. R. MOON PRESS FOR STAMPING BLANKS Filed April 27, 1934 4 Sheet'sSheet 4 R w@. m t m ....m.... HH a h m a a a a M Patented Nov. 19, 1935 rnsss FOR STAMPING BLANKS Charles R. Moon, Muncle, Ind., asslgnor to Ontario Manufacturing Company, Muncie, Ind., a

corporation Application 27, 1934, Serial No. 722,752

I 9 Claims.

- This invention relates to an automatic press, and particularly that feature having to do with punching or forming a plurality, of spaced openings or stampings in a piece of work. As herein described, it is particularly applicable for use in punching spaces between the tynes in the pro-' duction of forks. Y

It is essential in forming the tynes of a fork that they not only be accurately formed, but their ends by symmetrically tapered to fonnthe sharpened points of the finished article. This requires great accuracy, both in the spacing and the angular relation ofthe dies with respect to the blank; Where a plurality of sets of dies are employed to simultaneouslyblank out the tynes, diificulty is encountered in maintaining them in accurate relation, wherefore it is a substantial advantage, bothin production of the dies and their maintenance, to employ only a single set of dies instead of a pluralityof associated sets.

It is also diflicult in using a plurality of sets of I dies for simultaneous stamping to cause them to operate upon the blank accurately and without .distortion of the'tynes, resulting from the strain a and stress created in the blank by "the simultaneous punching operations between the relatively thin tynes.

In view of the above, the usual practice followed in producing forks is to feed the blanks by.

hand into a press having a pair of spaced sets of dies for stamping the outer'openings adjacent the outer tynes, leaving the inner tynes connected. A second manual operation then takes place wherein the blank is fed to a press having a single set of dies which-performs only the single.

operation of stamping the central owning between the two center tynes.

It is the object of this invention to stamp all three openings in the blank'with a single automatic feeding thereof by causing a relative movement between the blank and a single set of dies. This processmay be accomplished on a fully automatic press which is capable of stamping spaces between all of the tynes of the fork with one automatic feeding thereof into the press while still avoiding the difliculties inherent in simultaneous stampings or the several feeding operations as above described. Thus, the blank is automatically fed to the press, and while held The principal feature of the machine resides in the control thereof whereby a single set of in position therein, all the tynes are stamped dies is employed for stamping a plurality ofspaced forms accurately positioned with respect to each other, the single set of dies being automa'tlcally moved to the various positions required while the work is. held stationary, completing their progressive operations before the work is 5 automatically discharged. Thus, in respect to the production of a fork, the blank may be automatically fed into the machine and held in sta-' tionary position with respect thereto. The single set of dies will thereupon be operated to stamp 10 the center opening between the two inner tynes of the fork, and will then move to the next position for stamping an opening on one side thereof adjacent one of the outer tynes, whereupon it will move to the other side of the central .tynes 15 to. stamp the opening adjacent the outer tyne on the other side of the blank.

Another feature of the invention resides in theautomatic means for controlling the feeding of the blank in cooperation with the operation of the die in timed'relation thereto, whereby upon the blank being fed into the press, the feeding mechanismat the proper time will initiate the operation of the press, and upon the press completing its work, it will be automatically thrown out of operation to permit the blank to be removed therefromand automatically replaced by another blank. v

Other features of the invention reside in the mechanism for mounting'the dies to permit of their relative movements with respect to the stationary blank; the mechanism controlling the movement of the dies to cause the stamping operations atdiflferent locations in the blank; the mechanism for varying the relative angular positions of the dies-in their several operations with respectto the blank (as in stamping out the tynes of a fork which extend at a slight angle to each other); and the mechanism for locating the blank in the press with respect to the various op-v erating positions of the dies.

Whereas the machine is herein disclosed as effectlng relative movement of the dies with respect to the blank by movement thereof while the blank remains-fixed, in some types of work the same results may be obtained in substantially the same manner by causing the blank to be moved to different positions relative to stationary dies.

as pertaining to stamping the tynes in the-usual type of table fork, it will be recognized that it is likewise applicable to stamping other workinvolving the same problem.

The invention as shown herein is applicable 55 While the'inventlon is disclosed and described to any type of press, wherefore the press forms no part of the subject matter hereof. ticular design of press illustrated herein is The Minster Press No. 3", manufactured by the Minster Machine Company, of Minster, Ohio.

1e automatic feeding of the blanks to the press forms no part of this invention, the same automatic feed being disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 678,641, filed July 1, 1933, entitled Automatic feed for break-down machines.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the press feed, press operating control, and die' blocks. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the press feed and a section through the press taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view taken from the line 33 of Figs. 1 and 2, showing the rear elevation of a portion of the press. Fig. d is the same as a portion of Fig. 2, showing the dies in the extreme right-hand position in full lines and extreme left-hand position in dotted lines. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the press showing the source of power and control mechanism with the press feed attached. Fig. 6 is a central horizontal section through the dies and control cams showing the dies in centered position. Fig. 7 is Y the same as Fig. 6 withparts omitted, showing the position of the die carrying slide plate in extreme right-hand position. Fig. 8 is the same as Fig. 7, showing the die carrying slide plate in extreme left-hand position.

In the drawings here is illustrated a press of the type above mentioned having a frame Ill supported upon 'a base I provided with a bolster plate l2 and slide l3.

Whereas the usual press employs a male and female die rigidly locked to the slide and bolster plate respectively, they are herein movably mounted in the press as illustrated. To that end, the slide is provided with a male die head l4 vertically slidable upon the posts |5, but loosely mounted with respect to the slide |3 through the medium of a stud l6 having a depending head I! upon which the head I4 is slidably supported through a cover plate I8. Thus, the head I4, which supports the male die i9, is raised and lowered by the slide l3 in the usual manner, but is free to move laterally in any direction by reason of its floating support as above described.

The posts |5 are rigid with the female die block so thedies are held in accurate alignment during the operation of the press. However, the slide plate 2| is free to reciprocate laterally with respect to the bolster plate |2 upon which it is supported, as illustrated in full and dotted lines in Fig. 4.

The lateral movements of the dies are controlled in a mannerhereinafter described with- .in certain adjustable limits for moving them with respect to the work to progressively stamp the blank at different locations upon each press operation.

Automatic feed the gripping lever mounted on the reciproeating carriage 26. Said feed plate and carriage The pardrop from the machine.

' cally set forth and disclosed in the above-mentioned application, whereby the blank is periodi-' cally transferred from the magazine to the gripping lever and thereupon introduced into the press as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4.

After the blanking operation, the blank is then removed by the return movement of the carriage, which in its movement effects the release of the gripping lever to free the blank and permit it to Feeding devices of this character are well known in the art, the particular one referred to herein being fully described in my copending application. As it forms no part of this invention, further reference thereto is not deemed necessary. However, the feeding device is operably connected with the press, in order that they may operate in timed relation in the following manner.

Press operating control The shaft carries a cam 3! acting upon a roller 32 supported upon the end of a lever 33 fulcrumed at 34. Connected with the lever 33 there is a connecting rod 35 having its other end pivoted to an arm 36, which is keyed to a shaft 31 mounted in a bearing. 38 (Figs. 1 and 2). The other end of the shaft is keyed to an arm 39 pivotally connected with a rod 40, which in turn is connected with a bell crank lever 4| fulcrumed to the frame of the press at 42. The free end of the bell crank lever-is in position to engage a pin 43 on the upright sliding bar 44 which is normally held in its upper position by a spring 45 and is slidably supported by the brackets 46 and 41 .upon the frame IQ of the press.

On one side of the bar there is fulcrumed a latch 48 having a head 49 normally forced inward under tension of a spring 50 to engage an arm 5| fulcrumed to the frame H1 at 52. FW- otally connected with the arm 5| there is a rod 53 (Figs. 1 and 3), which operates the usual clutch commonly employed on this type of press,

as indicated at 53a (Fig. 5).

The usual press of this character employs a foot-operated pedal for throwing the press into its driving relation with any suitable source of power 53b upon the pedal and rod being depressed or drawn down, while throwing out the clutch and applying a brake to stop the operation of the press by disconnecting it from the source of power upon the pedal being released and the rod elevated by a suitable spring 53c. The same action takes place herein, the parts being connected through said clutch with the source of power upon the rod 53 being drawn down by the arm 5| when depressed through the medium of the latch 48 and bar 44, operably connected, as above described, with the cam 3|.

Thus, upon the feeding device positioning a blank in the press, the cam 3| thereof will, as

above described, draw the rod 53 downwardly,

causing the operation of the press on the blank positioned therein.

The clutch is released for disconnecting .the press from the source of power by disengaging the head 49 of the latch 48 from the arm 5|, as shown in Fig. 3. This permits the spring We to raise the rod- 53- for releasing the clutch, irrespective of the position of the bar 44 and cam of the press.

zontal rod 54 extending transversely of the press.

at the rear thereof and acting against the tension of spring 55. Said rod is moved to clutch-releasing position by the cam 56 engaging the arm 51 fulcrumed to the frame o-fv the press at 58.

The cam 56 makes one revolution for each cycle of the press and is driven by the same source of power 53b from which the press is driven, as will be hereinafter described.

It will thus be observed that the operation of the press will be initiated by the blank feeding 1 device at such-time as a blank is fed into the press ready to be operated upon. After the press operation is initiated, it is automatically stopped at the completion of a cycle comprising one complete revolution of the cam 56 and shaft 59 to permit the finished blank to be removed and a new blank fed therein.

The shaft 59 is driven through a spiral gear 60 by a pinion 6|. The pinion BI is driven.by a sprocket wheel 62 through the chain 63 connected with the source of power 5312 by which the press is driven, herein shown as an electric motor.

Floating dies To permit movement of the dies to their varrious spaced and angular positions, the slide movement by reason of the rotary movement between the block 65 and the slide 2| coupled with the longitudinal movement of the slide 2| with I9 which are caused to move with theblock 65 through themedium of the posts I5, such movement being permitted by the loose fit of'the head I! bywhich it is supported from the slide I3 Fixed work holder I The blank 23 is held in fixed position, asabove mentioned, by the locating plates 61 and 68 slidably supported upon the upper face of the die 2|).

Said plates have a three'point bearing with respect to the blank, as indicated by'dotted lines in Fig. 4. They areangularly adjustable by the nut and slot 69 about apivot I mounted uponan extension of the gage plate II which is supported and longitudinally adjusted upon the press frame by theset screw I2. The gage plate is both laterally and angularly adjusted by the set screws I3, shown in Fig. 4. Thus, the gage and locating plates are designed for positioning the blank as y it is fed to the pressand holding it in fixed relation thereto during the several operations of the dies which move as a unit relative thereto. Mounted immediately above the locating. plate,

there is a stripper plate I4 having the frontend thereof curved upwardly to guide the blank there! press at each end of the die block, ad ustable 75.

. under between the locating plates, as shown in Fig. 1. p

Positioning of dies The reciprocating movement of the slide plate 2| upon the bolster plate I2 is effected in the following manner. At one side of the press there is supported a camhousing 15 through which the shaft 59 extends driven from the source of power53b by the sprocket chain 63. Mounted 'upon said shaft within the housing, there is a plurality of cams. To distinguish them, they may be termed the right-hand cam I6, the left.

'hand cam I1 and the centering cam I8. The right-hand cam-I6 is designed to move the slide plate both .to centering and the extreme righthand position, whereby the right-hand opening will be stamped in the fork. The left-hand cam I1 is designed to move the slide plate to the ex treme left-hand position, whereby the left-hand acting in conjunction with cam I6, is adapted to r accurately center the plate for stamping the center opening in the fork. In centering the dies, the

cheek 16a of cam I6 forces the slide plate 2| to the right until roller 90 on rocker arm 88 engages the centering cam I8 which limits and centers the plate against the tension of the right-hand spring 8|.

For this purpose, the slide plate 2| comprise a recess indicated at I9 in which the connecting rod 80 extends. The rod is surrounded by compression springs 8| between which there is provided a collar 82 pinned to the-connecting rod. The connecting rod reciprocates the slide plate through the medium of the collar and springs.

opening will be stamped. The centering cam I8,

The driven end of the rod is 'pivo'tally connected to the roller 83 on one end of the bell crank lever 84, positioned to be engaged by the cam I6. Said bell 'crank' lever is pivoted at 85 to the housing so as to rock thereabout. On the other side and end of the bell crank lever there is a roller 86 in position to be engagedby the cam 11.

The cam I6 by its engagement with the roller 83 will move that end of the bell crank lever to the right, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, imparting a corresponding right-hand movement to the slide plate 2| through the right-hand spring 8|.

As the roller 83 is released by the cam I6. the

provided with a roller, 90 in position to be -en-- gaged by thecamla. While the slide plate 2| is being forced to the right by the cam I6, the cam I8 will draw it to the left against the tension of 'the proper centered position for stamping the the right-hand spring'8l, thus bringing it to center opening between the two inner tynes of the fork.

The extreme right and left positions of the slide plate are controlled by. the adjustable limit stops 9| and 92, respectively. Thus, all three laterally spaced-positions of the plate'a're 'controlled by the above-described cams and limit stops.

For throwing the die block to its various angu lar positions relative to the slide plate about its pivotal mounting 64, there are mounted on the rollers 93 and 35 adapted to be engaged by the projections 95 and 96, respectively. The projections 95 and 96 are secured to, and extend laterally from the die block, being provided with inclined rollerengaging faces. On the rear side of the press there are provided stabilizing rollers 9i spring-mounted upon the rods 98 for exerting a yielding stabilizing pressure against the rear edge of the block, one on each side of its center.

By means of this arrangement, as the slide plate is moved by the cams to its extreme righthand position, and before it is arrested in its movement by the stop 96, the inclined edge of the projection 95 engages the adjustable roller 93 which causes a slight swinging action of the die block thereon against the tension of the righthand roller 91. This slightly angular position of the die block sets the angular relation of the dies to correspond with the desired angular position of the right-hand slot to be formed in the fork. As the slide plate is returned through its center position, whereby the die block is free from engagement with the rollers 93 and 94, the compression rollers 9i under equal tension, will bear against its rear edge, and will straighten it so that the dies will be aligned in position for punching the straight opening between the center tynes of the fork. When the slide plate is moved to its extreme left-hand position, the die block will be again tilted by engagement with the roller ed for stamping the singularly-disposed opening on the left-hand side of the fork in the manner above described with respect to the right-hand side.

Operation In operation it may be assumed that the usual clutch in a die press of this character is freed so that the press is at rest, but with the die block in substantially central position, and the punch i i elevated. A blank has just been discharged and a new blank is to be fed to the machine. Thereupon, the feed plate "25 moves the bottom blank 23 from the magazine 22 onto the carriage 26 when in its retracted position with the gripping lever 25 elevated. Through the medium of the shaft 29, the carriage 2 3 is caused to move forward simultaneously, actuating the gripping lever 25 to grip the rear end of the blank The continued movement of the carriage inserts the forward end of the blank between the d es within the locating plates 61 and $33.

When the work has been thus located within the press, the cam 3i causes the clutch to be engaged by pulling down on the rod 53, and the press is set into operation. The first movement of the press causes the centeringcam '18, through the bell crank 88, to accurately center the die block, carrying the dies, to stamp the central opening between the two center tynes oi the fork. Thereupon the right-hand cam 18 causes the die block to move to the right and be slightly biased by engagement with the roller 93, in which position' the right-hand opening between the righthand tynes is stamped at a slightly angular relation to the center opening. After this operation, the cam 11, through the roller 88, draws the die block to the opposite extreme position where it is reversely biased by engagement with the roller 94. In this position, the left-hand opening between the left-hand tynes of the fork, is stamped at an opposite angle to the right-hand opening.

After the completion of the three stamping operations, the cam 56, through the medium of the tion, causes the clamping lever 25 to release the blank, permitting it to drop from the machine.

While the invention has been described as pertaining to a particular type of die press, operable for producing a fork, it will be recognized that the same principle of operation, as well as the mechanism airecting the control of the press, positioningof the dies, and locating the work, may be employed with other types of presses and for different purposes. Thus the invention is applicable to presses wherever it is desirable to effect a plurality of spaced and/or angularly-disposed operations on a piece of work.

The invention claimed is:-

1. A press comprising means for holding the work in fixed position relative thereto, die members mounted to move laterally of the press, means for causing a stamping operation on the work by said die members, and means automatically actuated by each operation of the press for moving said members to a different operating position with respect to the work.

-2. A press comprising means for holding the work in fixed position relative thereto, means for adjusting said holding means to locate the work in a predetermined position, male and female die mernbers movably mounted as a unit on the press, means for causing a stamping operation on the work by the male die members, and means automatically operated by each operation of the press for moving said members as a unit to a different operating position with respect to the work.

3. A press comprising means for holding the work in fixed position relative th'reto, a die block supporting a female die movably mounted with respect to said press and work, a male die associated with said block to move therewith, means for actuating said press and male die to effect a stamping operation on said work, and a plurality of cams operably connected with said die bloclc actuated by the movement of the press upon completion of each stamping operation to move and locate said block and dies to perform the stamping operation on the work in spaced relation to the preceding operation.

i. A press comprising means for holding the work in fixed position relative thereto, die members having a universal mounting on said press, and mechanism for oscillating said members to bring them into different spaced and angular relations relative to the work for each succeeding stamping operation.

5. A press comprising male and female die members mounted as a unit, work-locating members on said press, mechanism for moving and locating said members both in spaced and angu-.

lar relation to each other transversely of the work after each operation, and means for actuating the male die member to effect a stamping operation upon said members being located preparatory therefor. i

6. A press comprising a sliding plate, cam members operably connected therewith for periodically sliding said plate relative to the press, a die block rotatably mounted on said plate and having a plurality of upwardly-extending posts, a female die carried thereby, a vertical slide. op-

erated by said press adapted to support a male die by a universal mounting, said die being slidably mounted on said posts, means on said press adapted to be engaged by the movement or said die block for moving and locating said dies in angular position, and an adjustable work holder supported by said press intermediate said male and female dies.

'7. A press comprising a sliding plate, cam members operably connected therewith for periodically sliding said plate relative toihe press, a die block rotatably mounted on said plate and having a plurality of upwardly-extending posts,

, a female die carried thereby, a vertical slide opating them in timed relation, and means controlled therebyfor disconnecting the source or power upon completion of a'predetermined number of operations.

8. A press comprising a sliding plate, cam

members operably connected therewith for periodically sliding said plate relative to the press,

a die block rotatably mounted on said plate and having a plurality of upwardly-extending posts, a female die carried thereby, a vertical slide operated by said press. adapted to support a male die bya universal mounting, said die being slid- 5 ably mounted on said posts, means on said press .adapted to. be engaged by the movement'of said block for moving and locating said dies in angular tion,' an adjustable work holder suppor by said press intermediate aid dies, a com- 10 mon source of power for said press and cams for operating them in timed relation, means for connecting said press and earns with the source of power to initiate the operation of said press upon .,the work being positioned therein, and means 15 controlled by said cams for disconnecting the source of power upon completion oi. a predetermined number of operations.

9. A press comprising means for holding the work in fixed position relativethereto, male and :0 female die members movably mounted as a unit on the press, means for causing a stamping operation on the work by said die members, and

means automatically actuated by each operation of the press for moving said members to a difler- 25 ent predetermined operating position with respect'to the work.

@ CHARLESRMOON. 

